Five people guilty of double murder of teenage boys through mistaken identity

Four teenagers and a 45-year-old man have been found guilty of murdering two boys, 15 and 16, who were attacked with machetes in a case of mistaken identity

The convictions follow a five-week trial at Bristol Crown Court.

The jury heard how Max Dixon and Mason Rist were killed on January 27 in a case of mistaken identityafter he was wrongly identified as responsible for a house attack in the Hartcliffe area of ​​the city earlier that evening.

Antony Snook, 45, Riley Tolliver, 18, and three boys aged 15, 16 and 17 were all on trial, each charged with two counts of murder.

The fatal stabbings in Knowle West lasted just 33 seconds – with both boys suffering what the court heard were ‘insurmountable’ injuries and ‘immediate severe blood loss’.

Both died in hospital in the early hours of January 28.

Chief Inspector Gary Haskins, lead investigator on the case for Avon and Somerset Police, told Sky News that Max and Mason had nothing to do with the house attack.

“These boys were not known to their attackers, they were best friends, two beautiful children just living their lives and attacking for no reason,” he said.

A big part of the prosecution’s case was based on CCTV footage and doorbell videosincluding a camera at Mason’s own home that captured footage of the knife attack on him.

The pair were seen leaving Mason’s home around 11:15 p.m.

Prosecutor Ray Tully KC told the jury the boys were attacked by the group who had been traveling in Snook’s Audi Q2.

He said the group was “out for revenge”, “acting as a pack” to hunt down those responsible and was “armed” with terrifying weapons.

After the attackers fled, Max and Mason were left bleeding in the street.

The investigation involved more than 230 police officers and staff, analyzing thousands of pieces of evidence.

Hundreds mourned victims at school

The teenage victims were in year 11 together at Oasis Academy John Williams secondary school and were preparing for their final exams this summer.

The school’s principal, Victoria Boomer-Clark, told Sky News that everyone rallied to support fellow students and staff.

She said: “After the boys were tragically killed, the first thing for us to think about was the families and how they were coping with the absolute tragedy and shock of that.

“I can remember trying to prepare for that Monday morning and my memories now are of how exceptionally strong our young people are and how we have a real sense of community.

“Without our knowledge, the young people had agreed to hold a vigil on the playground on that first Monday during the break. Hundreds of young people and staff came together in silence.”

Ms Boomer-Clark said the boys would have gone to prom this summer.

“We had a wall lit red for Mason and Liverpool Football Club and a wall lit blue for Park Knowle Football Club,” she said. “The year group came together and supported each other as a result.”

Detective had never seen ‘horrific’ weapons before

The murders came earlier a new law was introduced banning the possession of zombie-style knives and machetes.

Chief Inspector Gary Haskins said: “The weapons used in the attack on Mason and Max were absolutely horrific.

‘I have been a detective for many years and have had the misfortune to investigate a number of serious crimes.

“In all my time in the service, I have never seen a weapon like what we saw used by those two guys.

“There is no place for such a weapon in society for any reason.”

The detective praised the boy’s families, who were present at the court throughout the trial.

He added: “I am humbled by the families involved in this investigation. They’ve been in court every day, they’ve seen things in court that no parent should ever be exposed to. They have seen the attacks on their children, but they maintain their dignity, their courage and their love for their family.

“How can you replace what they lost? They lost two beautiful sons, and I can only hope that the verdicts will bring some form of closure. It will never fully close.”

Police continue to investigate the attack on the Hartcliffe home and search for those responsible.

(c) Sky News 2024: Five people guilty of double murder of teenage boys by mistaken identity